THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH - Bible Study

THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH

As we have seen, the Church is not an “Organization,” but an “Organism.” Therefore, it is not a “Social Club” organized, and supported for the benefit of its members. Neither is it a “Place of Amusement” to pander to the carnal nature of man. Nor is it a “House of Merchandise” for the sale of “Indulgences,” or other commodities, whereby the money of the ungodly can be secured to save the penurious church member a little self-sacrifice. Neither is it a “Reform Bureau” to save the “bodies” of men. The reformation of men is very commendable, as are all forms of “Social Service,” but that is not the work of the Church. All the great philanthropic and civilizing agencies of the world are “By-Products” of Christianity, but the “Mission” of the Church is her “COMMISSION” to “Evangelize” the world. Mark 16:15-16. Acts 1: 7-8. The “Kingdom Idea” has robbed the Church of her “UPWARD LOOK,” and of the “BLESSED HOPE.” There cannot be any “Imminent Coming” to those who are seeking to “Set up the Kingdom.” The “Kingdom Idea” has robbed the Church of the “Pilgrim” and “Martyr Spirit,” and caused it to go down into Egypt for help. When the Church enters into an “Alliance with the World,” and seeks the help of Parliaments, Congresses, Legislatures, Federations and Reform Societies, largely made up of ungodly men and women, she loses her “SPIRITUAL POWER” and becomes helpless as a redeeming force. The end of such an “Alliance” will be a “Religious Political Regime” that will pave the way for the revelation of Satan’s great “Religious Political Leader” and “Superman” – the ANTICHRIST.

THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

It is the Divine way to give, at the beginning of some new thing which God is going to do in the earth, a “Prophetic Foreview” of its history. The “Prophetic Foreview” of Israel’s history is given in Deuteronomy, chapters 27 to 30, and of the Gentiles in Daniel, chapters 2 and 7. Both of these down to date have been literally fulfilled. It follows therefore that we should find somewhere in the Scriptures a “Prophetic Foreview” of the History of the Christian Church. This History we find in the Book of Revelation, chapters 2 and 3, in the “Messages to the Seven Churches of Asia.” These were typical churches and are descriptive of “Seven Church Periods.” The Prophetic meaning of these “Messages” was hidden to the early Church because time was required for Church History to develop and be written so a comparison could be made to reveal the correspondence. We are now living in the “Laodicean” or “Last Stage” of the Church’s History in this Dispensation, which reveals the fact that the next “Event” is the “Return of the Lord,” who will “SPUE” the “Lukewarm” Church out of His mouth. Rev. 3:14-16.

THE PRESENT LOCATION OF THE CHURCH IN THE SPIRITUAL HEAVENS

What is true of the “Physical Heavens” is true of the “Spiritual Heavens.” In the last book of the Old Testament Jesus is called the “Sun of Righteousness.” Malachi 4:2. When He was on the earth, He declared Himself to be the “LIGHT OF THE WORLD” (John 9: 5), but that “LIGHT” was eclipsed by Calvary. From this we see that earth’s “Spiritual Day” or “Night” is dependent on whether Jesus as the “Sun of Righteousness” is visible or invisible, and is determined by His presence or absence. As Jesus is not now visibly present on the earth the period in which we are living is NIGHT, and we should expect only such illumination as the night can furnish, which in the physical heavens is the Moon and Stars, and on the earth artificial light. This is “MAN’S DAY” (1 Cor. 4: 3), a day of intellectual light, and as we have improved our artificial lights, and now use electricity where once we used candles, so men are boasting of the improvements they have made in intellectual lights, such as scientific discoveries and the various new religious cults, and have replaced “Divine Revelation” by the “Light of Reason,” and reject the illumination of the Holy Spirit for the “ignis fatuus” of “SEDUCING SPIRITS.” 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Peter 2:1-2.

If this is the “Night” of this Dispensation what luminary in the “Spiritual Firmament” are we to look to for light? What luminary gives light in the physical heavens at night? The Moon. Then we must look to the “MOON” of the “Spiritual Firmament” for light, and that is the Church. The Moon shines by reflected light from the Sun, so the Church shines by reflected light from the “Sun of Righteousness.” The Moon is only visible in the night, so the Church is only visible in the night of this Dispensation. When the “Sun of Righteousness” arises, and the “Day of the Lord,” or “Millennial Day,” dawns, the Church will become invisible, not because she will cease to exist, but because her light will pale before the greater light of the “Sun of Righteousness.”

What time is it then on the Dial of God’s Timepiece? It is NIGHT. But what time of the Night? Let the Apostle Paul answer. “The night is far spent, the day IS AT HAND.” Rom. 13:12. Jesus divided the night into “Four Watches.”

“Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the ‘Master of the House’ cometh, at EVEN, or at MIDNIGHT, Or at the COCK-CROWING, or in the MORNING.” Mark 13:35.

The “Four Watches” are:

1. FIRST WATCH: – “Evening.” From 6-9 P. M. Corresponding to “Apostolic Times.”

2. SECOND WATCH: – “Midnight.” From 9-12 P. M. Corresponding to the “Dark Ages.”

3.    THIRD WATCH: – “Cock-crowing.” From 12-3 A. M. Corresponding to the “Period of the Reformation.”

4.    FOURTH WATCH: – “Morning.” From 3-6 A. M. We are living in the “MORNING WATCH.”

How beautifully this is pictured prophetically in the experience of the Disciples on that night on the Sea of Galilee when the winds were contrary. Matt.14: 22-33. After the miracle of feeding the 5000 Jesus constrained His Disciples to embark in their boat for the Galilean side of the Lake while He sent the multitude away, and then went into a mountain apart to pray. When the Disciples were halfway across the Sea, they were caught in one of those sudden and severe storms that sweep over the Sea of Galilee, and, because the winds were “contrary,” they “toiled in rowing,” and could make no progress. Then it was that Jesus came to their rescue walking on the sea, that became a liquid floor, smooth and level, beneath His Holy Feet. The Disciples did not dare to turn back, for that would have been to fail in duty, but Jesus saw their faithfulness and was on His way to their rescue. They did not know it, but Jesus was COMING, and we are told the time, that it was the “FOURTH WATCH” of the night-the “MORNING WATCH.”